FUNimation doesn't seem to be planning to take the summer off, that's for sure. The company is still churning out the projects, and is apparently doing very well financially while it's at it.

First, the money stuff. The parent company, Navarre Corporation, announced last week that FUNimation "demonstrated double-digit sales growth and more than doubled its operating profit during the 2008 fiscal year," according to Navarre CEO Cary Deacon. If you're really into the numbers, they're available in this press release on the parent company's corporate site.

With that secure foundation in place, FUNimation continues their steady progress. Last Friday, as promised, they announced two more cast members for the upcoming Ouran High School Host Club series. Jamie Marchi is set to portray Chiziru Maihara, a character who plays a prominent role in the St. Lobelia Academy Zuka Club, and considers women vastly superior to men. And Cherami Leigh will be playing Kirimi Nekozawa, president of the Black Magic Club, who has a strong fear of the dark. (** A comment points out that it's supposed to be Kirimi's sister who is the president of the Black Magic Club. Since I'm unfamiliar with the story myself, I didn't know that.

I plead that the original notification on the FUNimation site really doesn't make that clear. But I stand corrected! Thanks! **)

The company is continuing with its two-by-two cast announcements every Friday, working up to the full cast revelation at Anime Expo.

And now they've added yet another fun way to keep up-to-date with what they're doing, by initiating the weekly FUNimation Update podcast. Its official home is here on FUNimation's main site; from there you can download the current week's 'cast, vote on trailers you want to see in future podcasts, and learn a bit about the two hosts, Todd Haberkorn and Scott Porter. More details about previous podcasts as well as the current week's production can be found here.

The initial 'cast featured interviews with both the writer/director of Shin Chan and the director of One Piece, a trailer, and footage of the actual behind-the-scenes production process when a new FUNimation anime is created. This week there is more company news, another update on production, and an interview with Caitlin Glass, director of Ouran High School Host Club. It appears that the new 'cast comes out on Mondays, so you'll be wanting to check back every week for the latest goodies.

And we still have those tantalizing Friday cast revelations to look forward to as well.